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Wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a wild-growing plant from the Apiaceae family, used as a food in Europe and eastern Asia. Due to its high content of lignans known to possess anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antiviral and other activities, it represents a potential functional food. However, quantitative data on lignans are still scarce and limited to deoxypodophyllotoxin, nemerosin and yatein. In this paper, a newly developed and validated reverse-phase HPLC–UV method was used to evaluate the content of 14 lignans in both aerial parts and roots of A. sylvestris. The most abundant root components were found to be deoxypodophyllotoxin (2.0–42.8 mg/g), nemerosin (2.0–23.4 mg/g), yatein (1.1–18.5 mg/g), podophyllotoxone (0.7–20.5 mg/g), guaiadequiol (0.8–8.3 mg/g) and dimethylmatairesinol (0.1–5.2 mg/g). Despite the high intra-population variability, a general trend of an increased lignan content during plant development could be observed in the root samples, whereas an opposite trend was observed in the herb samples. A validation study indicated that some of the investigated compounds—7-oxoaryltetralins and dibenzylbutyrolactones—have low stability and require cold storage in the dark. Furthermore, dibenzylbutyrolactones were confirmed to undergo a fast cis–trans isomerization; therefore, only the total content of these isomers should be reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Genistein recognized as phytoestrogens is one of the most extensively studied isoflavones. It comprises of significant portion of Asian diet including Japanese and Chinese cuisine in the form of Soy food products. Evidence showed that geinstein increases osteoblasts formation as well as decreases osteoclast production. It plays an important role in immunity; such as suppression of delayed hypersensitivity and increases host resistance to B16F10 tumor by proliferating cytotoxic T and NK cells. It also decreases the activity of lipoprotein lipase which in turn inhibits lipogenesis and prevents the uptake of glucose in type 2 diabetic in rats. Geinstein play important role in reproductive system where it regulates the productive of oestrogen and progesterone. Moreover Geinstein has the ability to inhibit the tumor and cancer cell proliferation. Numerous beneficial effect of Geinstein including cancer treatment and function in immunity, obesity, diabetes and reproductivity Geinstein proves the potentiality of phytoestrogens as a source of bioactive substance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The author is a former state legislator and feminist activist. Having traveled extensively in Asia, she questions the comparison of U.S. statistics regarding dietary/nutritional risk factors with those from countries whose public health standards are below that of the U.S. The author also notes that only recently has the U.S. had a critical mass of women in Congress that led to the funding of the first Women's Health Initiative. Countries in Asia have few women in positions of political power to advocate for public policies regarding women's health issues, especially concerning the gathering of data regarding breast carcinoma, which is considered a culturally sensitive topic. Although soy is considered a healthy staple of the majority of Asian diets because of its phytoestrogens, there is a mixed message to American consumers because cancer, rather than heart disease, is the leading cause of death among Asian females., (Copyright 2000 American Cancer Society.)

For most women, the menopause presents two sets of problems. First, most notice unpleasant symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness, but second, there are long-term sequelae arising from oestrogen deficiency. The main long-term problems are an increased risk of bone loss and cardiovascular disease. This chapter will focus on the role of phytoestrogens in alleviating menopausal symptoms. Studies to date would suggest that phytoestrogenic products may help around two-thirds of women to cope with menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, but there is little evidence that these products will help with vaginal dryness. It seems probable that these products lower cholesterol and therefore cardiovascular risk; however, it is important that women who use such products to alleviate menopausal symptoms have a bone density performed every 2 or 3 years to assess their risk of osteoporosis.